1
as in totals
a complete amount of something
the sum of human knowledge on that subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in summaries
a short statement of the main points
the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in heights
the highest part or point
he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in roots
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in adds
to combine (numbers) into a single sum
can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sums
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
But most of the money, regardless of affiliation, was given to super PACs that can legally accept unlimited sums.
—
Eric Lau,
Washington Post,
25 June 2026
In several of the cases, the city of Colorado Springs paid substantial sums to settle misconduct claims, attorneys said.
—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 June 2026
Brands spend enormous sums trying to capture attention, yet sport is one of the few places where it is genuinely given rather than grudgingly captured.
—
Sam Birchall,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
That is why vintage concert t-shirts from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s can command staggering sums.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Amenities tack on additional sums to the monthly rent renters fork over.
—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Messi’s base card in this set is more plentiful (more than 8,000 total graded) than his 2006 World Cup card, but PSA 10s are still selling for more than $400 and rising (population over 2,500) while rare parallels command up to six-figure sums.
—
Brooks Peck,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
European intelligence services say Russia is recruiting people online and paying them relatively small sums of money to carry out sabotage.
—
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
That's what sums it up best, is Change of Plans.
—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
That about sums it up nicely, song.
—
Glen Weldon,
NPR,
14 May 2026
That sums to about $40 billion – far short of the $56 billion price tag for eBay.
—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Owner and hotel manager Andrea Scherz describes the look as mountain chic with a British touch, and that pretty much sums it up.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Fennell's version of the book promises to lean into the madness and passion of Cathy and Heathcliffe's doomed love—and this quote kind of sums it up.
—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Parents sat down with Avatar star and Academy Award-winner, Zoe Saldaña, who sums the film up beautifully.
—
Katie Grant,
Parents,
16 Dec. 2025
Still, according to the investigative media outlet Mongabay, Petroperú has accumulated nearly $100 million in penalties for environmental damage across the country — sums the highly indebted state-company is not likely to be able to pay in the foreseeable future.
—
Sabrina Weiss,
The Dial,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
And the last, and most complex, are the regional powers financing the fighting, middle-power actors like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iran spending huge sums to back insurgent groups while carrying out strategic military strikes in pursuit of resources and political power.
—
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
But most of the money, regardless of affiliation, was given to super PACs that can legally accept unlimited sums.
—
Eric Lau,
Washington Post,
25 June 2026
In several of the cases, the city of Colorado Springs paid substantial sums to settle misconduct claims, attorneys said.
—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 June 2026
Brands spend enormous sums trying to capture attention, yet sport is one of the few places where it is genuinely given rather than grudgingly captured.
—
Sam Birchall,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
That is why vintage concert t-shirts from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s can command staggering sums.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Amenities tack on additional sums to the monthly rent renters fork over.
—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Messi’s base card in this set is more plentiful (more than 8,000 total graded) than his 2006 World Cup card, but PSA 10s are still selling for more than $400 and rising (population over 2,500) while rare parallels command up to six-figure sums.
—
Brooks Peck,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
European intelligence services say Russia is recruiting people online and paying them relatively small sums of money to carry out sabotage.
—
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Verb
But nothing sums it up better than this – almost half of the group got Percy Jackson tattoos while in Rome, many designed by one of our travelers.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
That's what sums it up best, is Change of Plans.
—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
That about sums it up nicely, song.
—
Glen Weldon,
NPR,
14 May 2026
That sums to about $40 billion – far short of the $56 billion price tag for eBay.
—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Owner and hotel manager Andrea Scherz describes the look as mountain chic with a British touch, and that pretty much sums it up.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Fennell's version of the book promises to lean into the madness and passion of Cathy and Heathcliffe's doomed love—and this quote kind of sums it up.
—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Parents sat down with Avatar star and Academy Award-winner, Zoe Saldaña, who sums the film up beautifully.
—
Katie Grant,
Parents,
16 Dec. 2025
Still, according to the investigative media outlet Mongabay, Petroperú has accumulated nearly $100 million in penalties for environmental damage across the country — sums the highly indebted state-company is not likely to be able to pay in the foreseeable future.
—
Sabrina Weiss,
The Dial,
23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sums
Noun
-
But on top of that, many series decide to submit only one episode per category to keep from cannibalizing their own vote totals.
-
Preliminary rainfall totals in Louisiana on Friday may have set a new state record.
Noun
-
Small businesses can reduce operational drag by using AI for meeting summaries, email drafting, scheduling coordination, invoice processing, CRM updates and document organization.
-
This section contains summaries from textbooks, as well as answers to exercises within them.
Noun
-
Over the proceeding year and a half, snowballing AI hype has sent valuations in the space soaring to spectacular new heights.
-
This leadership change aims to propel T3 Micro to new heights, deepening its connection with its female audience.
Noun
-
Aniston, on the other hand, leaned into the shoe's casual roots, wearing hers with jeans and a tank top for a relaxed look that felt quintessentially summer.
-
The dynamic Sun in your 9th House of Exploration quincunxes powerful Pluto in your 4th House of Home, so growth calls while roots demand attention.
Verb
-
The classic and irresistible pairing of fat and acid is nothing short of genius; the butter that makes the sauce taste so rich and creamy is perfectly tempered by the vinegar that adds a signature tang to the hot sauce.
-
The square neckline adds a flattering, feminine touch, while the subtle volume in the sleeves gives it a slightly dressier feel than your average tee.
Noun
-
While Spain offers a European setting, many eclipse chasers are eyeing destinations like Tunisia and Egypt for their very long totalities and very high chances of clear skies.
Noun
-
Throw in high steal rates the past two seasons in a solid conference, solid defensive work overall, plus-rebounding for his position and his ability to get free points in transition, and the outlines of a role-playing wing are there.
-
The set incorporates the best of cat-eyes, 3D gold outlines, and strawberry milk nails.
Noun
-
The crewneck has an oversized fit that’s ideal for layering over summer tank-tops, and heck, even a swimsuit on windy beach days.
-
There are plenty more options to choose from — shop additional white eyelet tops inspired by Helen Mirren on Amazon.
Cite this Entry
“Sums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sums. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
